Q: I saw this signpost in my neighborhood while walking my dog, and was curious as to the real meaning of the words "Video Monitored." Who placed that sign on the post, and why weren't the residents informed of video recording?

A: Madison Police Maj. Lee Weaver says video monitoring is legal in Madison, but Taylor Edge, the mayor's assistant, said it is illegal to attach private signs to city property. He said the city removed the sign after learning about it.

Carl Dow, commander of the subdivision's Neighborhood Watch program, said several residents have video cameras on their property and they were told they had to post a sign informing people about the surveillance.

The video monitoring sign was placed directly beneath the Neighborhood Watch sign, which is attached to the city's speed limit sign. The city does not use video to monitor public streets or neighborhoods, Edge said.

Q: A group of us went hiking recently at the Land Trust's Wade Mountain Preserve. We started hiking from the trailhead on Spragins Hollow Road and hadn't hiked very long (less than half an hour) when we noticed a huge swath of open land immediately adjacent to the Land Trust property that had been solid forest the last time we were there.

We were wondering if this was logged just for the timber, and will it be allowed to grow back, or are there plans for development? - William Spears, Huntsville

A: Andy Prewitt, land manager for the Land Trust of North Alabama, says the property Spears refers to is a 78-acre tract owned by a company out of Madison.

"They clear cut the property adjacent to the Land Trust of North Alabama's Wade Mountain Preserve for its timber with plans to replant the parcel in loblolly pine," Prewitt said.

"To my knowledge, there are no plans for development at this time. The Land Trust was able to work with the logging company to ensure the preserve boundaries were recognized and maintained." - Chris Welch

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